though only when can afford to spend the time doing it properly. I still have an old Morris Sculptor Edge, but for convenience i also use a rosallini, and Barber Joe uses a Feather from time to time so I might just get one of those. Here’s a guy who has a pretty good handle on self-shaving. He touches on the most important items: Shave against the grain to get the tightest shave, shave in at least two directions, don’t talk during the tough spots.
There are times when I’m rushed or it’s early (Damn, morning comes early in the winter, donit?) I have come to use safetyu razors, but there are only a few I really like. My personal favorite is the Bic Metal- it has a metal guide rod and a single blade, and it shaves me about as close as i can with a plain blade. Problem is, you can’t buy the damned things anymore- at least not anywhere I shop. So I discovered you could still buy them online and i bought a lifetime supply. Fuckit, when you like something ain’t no sense changing just for changes sake.

6 Responses to “I still shave with a straight razor”

on 06 Feb 2013 at 11:52 am Bruce H.

>> … i bought a lifetime supply.

I did that with dental floss. Unfortunately I waited until I couldn’t find my original favorite anywhere. Then it turned out I like the replacement better, so now I have a lifetime supply of my favorite floss.

on 06 Feb 2013 at 12:25 pm Mark D

I have a beard, but I used a double-edged razor to shave my throat and cheeks so I don’t look like Chewbacca. My wife gave me the razor a few years ago (a Merkur). A few months ago we went to a wedding, and I forgot my razor so I bought a disposable to neaten up with. I don’t know how I shaved with those things for so many years, don’t think I’ll ever go back.

… amen, man….. when Levis stopped making 512s, I went out and bought 8 pairs of 501s and had them tailored….. us with good taste are always getting our best stuff discontinued…… when I find something that I like, I stick with it….

I went forever with disposables and Barbasol, but last year decided to grow up and buy a real razor, and got a Mach 3 for the simple reasons 1) the Atra and the other 2 blade one were discontinued, and 2) 3 blades are plenty; I don’t need a 456 blade head razor. The blades will cost you a fortune. Then I got a shaving kit with soap and a brush. I thought I was wasting my money being a dandy. I was wrong. It was the best self shave I had, smoother than any shave since I began. The soap has lasted excellently, so the cost is roughly the same as a better brand of canned gel or foam.

I’m not brave enough to go full bore and do the straight razor. But there’s a beaut out there that, if I could get one for a deal, would tempt me to try walking the high wire without a net: the Filarmonica.

The nice thing about the straight razor is as long as you strop it to keep it sharp, and don’t abuse or neglect it, you have a blade for life. No buying refills.

on 07 Feb 2013 at 4:36 am Sylvilagus Aquaticus

Two years ago I decided to give up on expensive Gillette Mach blades and bought a Merkur Heavy-Duty long handled double edge handle and an assortment of blades from West Coast Shaving. Best investment I’ve made in grooming since I bought all that hoof trimming and shoeing stuff off the estate of an old, dead farrier.
Seriously, those Israeli blades cut my redwood-grade whiskers like a laser without shredding my delicate skin. It’s such a smooth shave with a good shaving soap and badger brush that I can realistically go two days without a touch-up, which is unheard of for me. I’ve tried the straight razor idea before- my grandfather tried valiantly to show me how- but I always looked like I’d run my head through a cheese grater no matter how well-prepped the beard and sharp the blade. Since I’m working from home more these days, I may let it go a week before deforesting without any problems.